Tricycle horse

ABSTRACT

A toy for children having a simulated plastic horse to which is affixed on the interior with suitable fasteners a frame having three wheels at its lower extremity. This device includes a main frame which secures the plastic horse to the device and includes also a pivotable front wheel to which is affixed a handle bar. The device is propelled by foot pedals and is supported at the rear novel spring means in order to initiate a rocking action.

United 9 States Patent Curtis 1111 3,811,695 14 1 May 21, 1974 1 TRICYCLE HORSE [76] Inventor: Russell B. Curtis, Eagle Butte, S.

Dak. 57625 221 Filed: June 23,1972

[21] Appl. No.: 265,582

[52] 11.8. Cl. 280/l.192 [51] Int. Cl B62m 29/00 [58] Field of Search ..280/1.189,1.191,1.192, 280/1.195,1.196, 1.208

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,074,731 1/1963 .lenne 280/1.196 3,051,501 8/1962 Bunn 280/].195 1,792,162 2/1931 Hart 280/1.189 1,684,250 /1928 Tegelberg 280/].192 1,252,693 1/1918 Herzog 280/1.195

FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 11/1919 Great Britain ..280/1.19l

366,970 8/1938 ltaly 280/1.192

Primary Examiner-Leo Friaglia Assistant ExaminerRanda1l A. Schrecengost Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Berman, Bishoff & Platt 5 7] ABSTRACT A toy for children having a simulated plastic horse to which is affixed on the interior with suitable fasteners a frame having three wheels at its lower extremity. This device includes a main frame which secures the plastic horse to the device and includes also a pivotable front wheel to which is affixed a handle bar. The device is propelled by foot pedals and is supported at the rear novel spring means in order to initiate a rocking action.

14 Claims, 11 Drawing Figures TRICYCLE HORSE This invention relates to toy vehicles and more particularly relates to a novel arrangement in a tricycle horse for imparting a motion thereto simulating the motion of a horse or other animal.

A primary object of the present invention is to provide an improved tricycle horse for use by children which will increase their enjoyment while propelling the device.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved tricycle horse which incorporates novel means for simulating a rocking action.

These and other objects, advantages and features of the present invention will be apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view, partially broken away, of a first embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a bottom plan view of the embodiment of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a partial sectional view taken on the line 33 in FIG. 2, looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 4 is a partial sectional view taken on the line 4-4 in FIG. 1, looking in'the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 5 is a view similar to that of FIG. 4, but showing a variation in the main frame member;

FIG. 6 is a partial sectional view similar to that in FIG. 3, illustrating a second embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 7 is a partial sectional view taken on the line 77 in FIG. 6, looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 8 is a partial sectional view, similar to FIG. 3, of a third embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 9 is a side elevation, looking from the left in FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is a side elevation, similar to that in FIG. 9, with certain parts eliminated in the interest of clarity, of a fourth embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 11 is a sectional view taken on the line 11-11 in FIG. 10, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Referring now to FIGS. 1, 2, 3 and 4 of the drawings, there is illustrated a first embodiment of the novel tricycle horse of the present invention, generally designated by the reference numeral 10. A hollow plastic simulation of the horses body 11 is fastened to main frame member 13 by bolts 22 and nuts 23. Main frame member is joined to sleeve 26 in which is pivotably mounted conventional steering bar 18 mounted to handle bars 12. Steering fork member 19 is secured to front wheel 16 in a conventional manner and pedals 20 are provided for propelling the tricycle horse.

Depending downwardly and rearwardly from main frame member 13 is central frame member 14 which is joined to main frame member 13 by hinge 21. The other end of central frame member 14 is fixedly secured to the center of rear axle 25 on which are mounted rear wheels 17 in a conventional manner. Rear support struts 24 are welded or otherwise joined to central frame member 14 at one end and at their other ends to opposite ends of rear axle 25.

Disposed between main frame member 13 and central frame member 14 is coil spring which is retained in place by clamping member 27, welded or otherwise fixed to main frame member 13 and clamping member 28, similarly fixed to central frame member 14.

As shown in the cross-sectional view of FIG. 4, main frame member 13 is a tube having a circular crosssection. However, this member need not necessarily be of circular cross-section. For example, as shown in FIG. 5, a member 13a of triangular cross-section may be employed.

In operation, the tricycle horse 10, when propelled by a child through the use of foot pedals 20, will proceed in a forward direction. However, at the same time, the child by shifting his weight forwardly and rear wardly, will cause spring 15 to oscillate between a compressed and uncompressed state and main frame member 13 to pivot about hinge 21, following the movements of the spring. Thus, the movement of the tricycle horse 10 will closely simulate the rocking or galloping motion of a real horse.

Referring now to FIGS. 6 and 7, there is shown a variation in the spring mounting arrangement of the tricycle horse shown in FIG. 1 and described above. In other respects, however, the FIGS. 6 and 7 embodiment is precisely the same as that described with respect to FIGS. 1, 2, 3 and 4, above.

In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, rather than utilizing a single spring 15, as shown in FIG. 1, two springs 31 and 32 are employed. Springs 31 and 32 are suspended from plate 36 which is welded or otherwise fixedly secured to short pipe section 35 which in turn depends downwardly from and is fixedly secured to main framemember 13. Springs 31 and 32 are guided by and retained in cylindrical cup members 29 and 30, respectively, which are welded or otherwise fixedly secured to central frame member 14 and disposed on opposite sides thereof.

The operation of the FIGS. 6 and 7 embodiment is the same as that described above with respect to the FIG. 1 embodiment. However, the use of the dual spring mounting provides a somewhat more stable ride.

Referring now to FIGS. 8 and 9, there is shown still another variation in the spring mounting arrangement. In this embodiment, retaining guide cup 41 is welded or otherwise affixed to axle 25. Main frame member 37, in this embodiment, is substantially L-shaped with the shorter leg of the L having affixed to its end, coil spring 42 which rides within retaining cup 41. Main frame member 37 passes through cylindrical sleeve 39 which is affixed on opposite sides thereof to rear struts 40, fastened at their opposite ends to rear axle 25. Stop pin 38 is provided on main frame member 37 to prevent spring 42 from popping out of retaining cup 41 during a particularly violent rocking action. Side braces 33 are fixedly secured at one end thereof to opposite ends of rear axle 25 and at their other ends, braces 33 are attached to main frame member 37 by means of slotted fitting 43 which rides on pin 44.

The operation of the embodiment of FIGS. 8 and 9 is substantially similar to the operation described hereinabove with respect to the first two embodiments of the invention. When the rocking or galloping motion is imparted to the tricycle horse by the rider, spring 42 will reciprocate within retaining guide cup 41 and the upward movement of main frame member 37 will be limited by the abutment of pin 38 against the underside of cylindrical sleeve 39. As spring 42 reciprocates and main frame member 37 moves in an upward and downward direction, pin 44 will ride within slotted member 43 to accommodate the upward and downward movement.

Referring now to FIGS. and 11, there is shown another arrangement of the spring mounting of the present invention which employs a leaf spring 47 in place of the coil spring described above with respect to the other embodiments. Main frame member 45 is substantially identical to main frame member 37 described in connection with the embodiment of FIGS. 8 and 9 except that at its lower end it is welded or otherwise permanently affixed to clamping plate 46. Leaf spring 47 is clamped between clamping plate 46 and the upper surface of U-shaped yoke 48 by means of bolts 54.

Rear axle 25 passes through the bottom of yoke 48, as shown in FIG. 11, and is tangential to the inside surfaces thereof The ends of leaf spring 47 rest on rear axle 25 and are movable therealong when the spring expands or contracts.

Fixedly joined to rear axle 25 at opposite ends thereof are rear braces 50 and 51 joined by bracesupport 49. Brace support 49 is clamped by bolts 53 to plate 52, and main frame member 45 passes through the bolted assembly.

In operation, the aforedescribed body movements of the rider cause main frame member 45 to move up and down, and leaf spring 47 to expand and contract along rear axle 25. As described above, the resulting motion will simulate the rocking or galloping motion of a horse.

While various specific embodiments of the invention have been described, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that variations may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention. It is, therefore, intended that the scope of the invention be defined only by the claims appended hereto.

1 claim:

1. An improved tricycle horse vehicle having a front wheel and two rear wheels, comprising in combination:

a. a hollow plastic simulation of a horses body;

b. a main frame member fixedly secured to said body and disposed therewithin;

c. pedal means connected to said front wheel for propelling said vehicle;

d. spring means secured to the rear portion of said main frame member, for permitting the rear portion of said body to oscillate in a substantially vertical direction independently of said pedal means;

e. a rear axle connecting said rear wheels; and

f. means connected to said rear axle for guiding said spring means to restrict said vertical oscillation to a predetermined amount.

2. The improved vehicle set forth in claim 1, wherein said main frame member is fixedly bolted to said body at a plurality of spaced locations along said frame member, so as to prevent relative movement between said main frame member and said body.

3. The improved vehicle set forth in claim 2, wherein said main frame member is bolted to said body at three or more spaced locations.

4. The improved vehicle set forth in claim 1, wherein said spring means comprises a coil spring.

5. The improved vehicle set forth in claim 1, wherein said means connected to said rear axle comprises a central frame member hinged to said main frame member, said spring means being disposed between said main frame member and said central frame member.

6. The improved vehicle set forth in claim 5, wherein said spring means comprises two coil springs, each mounted on opposite sides of said central frame memher.

7. The improved vehicle set forth in claim 5, wherein said guiding means comprises two cylindrical cups, one for each of said springs, said cups being fixedly secured to said central frame member at opposite sides thereof and said springs being disposed within said cups.

8. The improved vehicle set forth in claim 4, wherein said coil spring is fixedly secured at one end to said main frame, said guiding means comprising a cylindrical cup fixedly secured to the central portion of said axle and said coil spring being disposed within said cup.

9. The improved vehicle set forth in claim 8, further including side brace means connected to opposite ends of said axle at one extremity thereof, and to said main frame member through a slot and pin connection at the other extremity thereof.

10. The improved vehicle set forth in claim 9, wherein said main frame member is substantially L- shaped, the longer arm of the L being connected to said body and the shorter arm of said L being connected to said one end of said coil spring.

11. The improved vehicle set forth in claim 10, further including a cylindrical sleeve mounted on supports attached to opposite extremities of said axle, said sleeve being coaxially disposed with respect to said cylindrical cup and said shorter arm of said L passing through said sleeve.

12. The improved vehicle set forth in claim 11, further including stop means mounted on said shorter arm of said L for cooperation with said cylindrical sleeve to prevent said coil spring from emerging from said cylindrical cup.

13. The improved vehicle set forth in claim 1, wherein said spring means comprises a leaf spring mounted substantially parallel to said rear axle for expansion and contraction therealong.

14. The improved vehicle set forth in claim 13, wherein said means for guiding comprises yoke means, said axle passing through said yoke and further including means for clamping said leaf spring to said yoke, so that when said rear portion of said body oscillates in a substantially vertical direction said yoke will reciprocate in a substantially vertical direction and said leaf spring will expand and contract along said axle. 

1. An improved tricycle horse vehicle having a front wheel and two rear wheels, comprising in combination: a. a hollow plastic simulation of a horse''s body; b. a main frame member fixedly secured to said body and disposed therewithin; c. pedal means connected to said front wheel for propelling said vehicle; d. spring means secured to the rear portion of said main frame member, for permitting the rear portion of said body to oscillate in a substantially vertical direction independently of said pedal means; e. a rear axle connecting said rear wheels; and f. means connected to said rear axle for guiding said spring means to restrict said vertical oscillation to a predetermined amount.
 2. The improved vehicle set forth in claim 1, wherein said main frame member is fixedly bolted to said body at a plurality of spaced locations along said frame member, so as to prevent relative movement between said main frame member and said body.
 3. The improved vehicle set forth in claim 2, wherein said main frame member is bolted to said body at three or more spaced locations.
 4. The improved vehicle set forth in claim 1, wherein said spring means comprises a coil spring.
 5. The improved vehicle set forth in claim 1, wherein said means connected to said rear axle comprises a central frame member hinged to said main frame member, said spring means being disposed between said main frame member and said central frame member.
 6. The improved vehicle set forth in claim 5, wherein said spring means comprises two coil springs, each mounted on opposite sides of said central frame member.
 7. The improved vehicle set forth in claim 5, wherein said guiding means comprises two cylindrical cups, one for each of said springs, said cups being fixedly secured to said central frame member at opposite sides thereof and said springs being disposed within said cups.
 8. The improved vehicle set forth in claim 4, wherein said coil spring is fixedly secured at one end to said main frame, said guiding means comprising a cylindrical cup fixedly secured to the central portion of said axle and said coil spring being disposed within said cup.
 9. The improved vehicle set forth in claim 8, further including side brace means connected to opposite ends of said axle at one extremity thereof, and to said main frame member through a slot and pin connection at the other extremity thereof.
 10. The improved vehicle set forth in claim 9, wherein said main frame member is substantially L-shaped, the longer arm of the L being connected to said body and the shorter arm of said L being connected to said one end of said coil spring.
 11. The impRoved vehicle set forth in claim 10, further including a cylindrical sleeve mounted on supports attached to opposite extremities of said axle, said sleeve being coaxially disposed with respect to said cylindrical cup and said shorter arm of said L passing through said sleeve.
 12. The improved vehicle set forth in claim 11, further including stop means mounted on said shorter arm of said L for cooperation with said cylindrical sleeve to prevent said coil spring from emerging from said cylindrical cup.
 13. The improved vehicle set forth in claim 1, wherein said spring means comprises a leaf spring mounted substantially parallel to said rear axle for expansion and contraction therealong.
 14. The improved vehicle set forth in claim 13, wherein said means for guiding comprises yoke means, said axle passing through said yoke and further including means for clamping said leaf spring to said yoke, so that when said rear portion of said body oscillates in a substantially vertical direction said yoke will reciprocate in a substantially vertical direction and said leaf spring will expand and contract along said axle. 